Summer season in full swing at Into the Blue

FatFace at the Virgin Kitesurfing Armada

The team headed over to Hayling Island for the Virgin Kitesurfing Armada earlier this month. Delivering the activation for our client FatFace, Into the Blue organised parkour classes for kids, as well as woodland craft workshops, yoga classes, fitness classes, a family zone with teepees and facepainting, and a chill out zone for the adults, with deck chairs and beanbags.There was also a FatFace pop-up shop with a special range chosen for festival goers.FatFace were headline sponsor of the event, and teamed up with Armada Events to create the official festival merchandise.

FatFace CompetitionTo celebrate the launch of their busy summer season, our client FatFace is running a huge competition to win everything you need to have an awesome summer – a prize package worth over £10,000, including £1,500 of FatFace clothing, a holiday, £1,000 spending money, festival tickets, camping gear, SUP boards, Apple watches and a Go Pro, to name just a few. To be in with a chance of winning, head to www.fatface.com competition. For full terms and conditions, please visit their website.

Into the Blue were contracted by the 1851 Trust to project manage delivery of five Land Rover BAR Roadshows.The Roadshows delivered a unique multi-activity STEM, sustainability and sailing day for students across the UK. Featuring real life examples of the technology and careers involved in Land Rover BAR's challenge for the America's Cup, the Roadshows were made up of activities carefully designed to enrich the school curriculum, aiming to inspire a new generation of sailors, designers and engineers. Over 500 pupils took part in the project, many of whom had never been sailing before. At the final stop in London on 16th June, the Trust's Patron HRH The Duchess of Cambridge joined pupils at the Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre, the perfect end to a very successful Roadshow. In addition to the delivery of The Roadshows, Into the Blue managed the activation of sponsor Bermuda's presence at each Roadshow.

Spinlock flying the flag for British innovationIt has been a fantastic first half of the year for our client Spinlock. They have not only been chosen to develop and manufacture bespoke lifejackets for Sir Ben Ainslie's America's Cup team, Land Rover BAR, and all teams competing in the Volvo Ocean Race 2017/18 edition, they have also been presented with the prestigious Queen's Award for Innovation.Into the Blue manage Spinlock's public relations and it has been a privilege to communicate these partnerships and events surrounding them. We recently welcomed the BBC to Spinlock's Cowes factory to film a news item on the development of the T2 jacket for Land Rover BAR and the Aero Pro, a new product that has been developed for the retail market thanks to their work on the T2. We worked closely with the BBC team to offer a full understanding of the brand and products and to relieve the busy team at Spinlock of the time-commitment involved in hosting media. We also ensured that the news was communicated to all sectors of the media, ranging from the sailing press to commercial publications. Spinlock are also the first choice for professional sailors and adventurers and it was a pleasure to recently work with Conrad Humphreys - world-renowned sailor and professional skipper of Bounty's End, in Channel 4's series Mutiny. We worked with Conrad to produce an interview discussing the important role Spinlock lifejackets played during the voyage. Read the interview here: yachtsandyachting.co.uk

In the StudioInto the Blue's design department has been busy this month! We produced event graphics for long-term client the RC44 Class, who have tour dates at Puerto Cervo and Marstrand coming up. We provided graphic design support to Land Rover BAR, in preparation for the Louis Vuitton Challenger Series, in the form of a 'How the Follow' infographic and a 'Scoreboard' poster for fans to keep track of the results. We also produced brand guidelines and collateral for sustainable energy client, Ethical Power, social media infographics for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust's fantastic Round Britain 2017 voyage, and adverts for client UKSA's GoSail project, who have opened up sailing opportunities for 14-16 year-olds in the summer holidays, not to mention ongoing design projects for Island-based wind energy client, MVOW. We love a busy design desk!

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Ellen MacArthur Cancer TrustIt has been a busy couple of months for our client the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust as they officially started their Round Britain 2017 voyage from their northern base in Largs, Scotland, on 20th May. We spent much of May up at their base in preparation for start day and the Glasgow stopover the following week, where the Trust's Founding Patron, Dame Ellen MacArthur joined the team. The voyage is off to a great start with their social media campaign #tell9people growing with every stopover. We have been working closely with media up and down Great Britain to ensure national and regional coverage and engagement with the story. Follow the team's journey and help support the crew when they're in a town near you: ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org

Good luck to everyone competing in this year's Round the Island Race. The Into the Blue crew haven't escaped the early alarm this year, as we are working with the event's media team to deliver their video and broadcast requirements, as well as running the communications for the official race charity The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. We look forward to seeing you all on the water!